Science for a Hungry World: Agriculture and Climate Change

This NASA video explores the relationship between climate and agriculture, including the variability of climate change impacts that may occur in different regions and the effects of population growth and higher demands for food in areas that already struggle to supply food for the people. The video highlights the need for accurate, continuous, and accessible data and computer models from NASA satellites to track and predict the challenges farmers face as they adjust to a changing climate.

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Notes From Our Reviewers

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Teaching Tips

Teaching Tips

Easy to use. The video can be shown online or downloaded.

About the Science

Depending on the intended audience, it may be necessary to clarify the role of CO2 and H2O in photosynthesis, and other biogeochemical cycles, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, as limiting factors for agriculture.

About the Pedagogy

This NASA video focuses on how increased carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels will impact agriculture around the world.

The video clarifies the the balance between the positive impacts of increased CO2 on plant growth and the negative impacts of a warmer atmosphere on growing seasons, water availability, drought, fire, and flooding.

The regions where food is grown now will not be the regions where the same crops will be able to grow in the future.

Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

Technical Details

High school science standards such as photosynthesis are covered.

May supplement lessons about the carbon cycle and food web.

Video could be used to frame discussions about global social and environmental justice issues.